MorphoSys tells Bloomberg STAT story ‘factually wrong’

After STAT News published a column by Adam Feuerstein that contended that Novartis (NVS) is going to walk away from its just-announced deal to acquire MorphoSys (MOR), a spokesperson for the German drug developer said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg News that “This story is factually wrong.” Novartis didn’t immediately respond to a Bloomberg News request for comment, the news service noted. Feuerstein acknowledges the view in his report is speculation, but cites “separate conversations with two people familiar with pelabresib and the debate inside Novartis” over the deal, Bloomberg noted. In afternoon trading in New York, MorphoSys shares have fallen 80c, or about 5%, to $16.47. Yesterday night, Novartis announced that it has entered into an agreement to make a voluntary public takeover offer to acquire all no-par value bearer shares of MorphoSys AG for EUR 68 per share, or an aggregate of EUR 2.7B.